Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-28

20 dearl o dear!" she sobbed- There was
nv nightdress on the bed, and my slippers,
and my ed not up-and o! potatoes In the
skillet! o, he will think / am a regular
sloven! Why couldn't it happen any other
time than when had to sleep so late
couldn't even eat my breakfast dear, ne
will never like me again! He couldn't after
seeing such looking room" She olo not
stop to think that her castle looked worse
when they had left than when they entered
But as the disorder worried her so much she
could not sit still and cry she began her task
1t was some time before the detectives Work
was undone-everything in trim order,
with the mattress rolled up and the
bed folded against the wall like book
cabinet and the few dishes washed, and the
tiny stove BACKED and the screen set around
it, and the one table covered with a gayly
embroidered cloth, all of which transformed
the kitchen and bedroom into cosey little
sitting room as though by fairy's wand. 1t
was dainty little place, nothing expensive.
but exquisite in the taste and tact displayed
The prevailing colors were deep red and pale
blue and gold, with many neutral tints
blended in the various bits of fancy work.
On bracket was a bit of white statuary set
on delicate mating of the tender green
leaves of growing vine-tle only costly e1-
travagance in the room, and Annie well
knew how long it took her to save enough to
buy it. She had selected her room for its south
window, and therein were standing two
geranium plants in full bloom-one deep
double red, the other soft, single white
flower.
AS Annie was viewing these little luxuries
II
with commendable pride, and gradually
plucking up spirits she suddenly bethought
her of her stockings. She did not remember
of picking them up, and, as she only had three
pairs, it was important that none Of them
should be misplaced Therefore she began to
search diligently, and was beginning to get
tired and puzzled in the useless search, when
loud rap, which she had heard once before
at the door, caused her to glance hastily in
the glass and then timidly open the door to
the knocker. 1t was noon. The whistle had
blown Just a few minutes before, and instead
of going to his dinner, here was Mr.. John
Dart standing at her door.
WORT you come nl" asked Annie, with q
downcast face.
THAT'S what l came for responded John,
honestly, and in he walked. Then he turned
around, and, taking her hands i'll his own in
the time honored ard approved fashion, he
said:
Il have been thinking of you this iong
while, Annie, and now l feel l cannot wait
any longer. You are alone in the world and
am almost so, although uncle is very good.
Let us make each other happy, and have a
pretty home like this with"-glancing around
the room-"with posies in every window"
0, of course, Annie said "Yes"-who
wouldn'tl And when the As whistle blew
John (who was very punctuaD went from
room 50 to the factory as one walking on air
-mayhap his empty stomach had something
to do with the hghtish feeling, but he never
thought of that, of course. Annie sat and
laughed and cried to think how happy she
was, and spent the remainder of her holiday
until evening building air castles until John
came back and began to put solid founda-
tons to the same by means of his pocket
book
They were married two months afterward,
and the next day John gave his wife small
bundle rolled up in white paper and tied with
blue ribbon. Full of wonder, Mrs. John I'M
tied the ribbon and beheld-her lost red
stockings!
"Why, John!" she exclaimed, instinctively
running her hand down to the toe But
there were no holes-only two or three dainty
little darns, and it is safe to predict That
Johns socks will never suffer- Chicago Tri-
mne